SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Nvidia Corp. is expected to diversify its High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) supply chain to include all three major memory chipmakers, as validation for the fourth-generation HBM4 chips enters the final stages ahead of the mass production of its next-generation "Rubin" GPU platform.
According to a report by market researcher TrendForce on Friday, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron Technology are all projected to complete HBM4 certification within the second quarter of this year. This milestone is likely to reshape Nvidia’s supply structure into a three-company ecosystem.
TrendForce assessed that Samsung Electronics is likely to be the first to secure certification, citing the company's product stability. The firm expects Samsung to begin phased mass production following the Q2 certification.
SK hynix is projected to follow, maintaining its competitive edge in overall bit supply volume based on its established partnership with Nvidia. Micron is also forecast to complete verification within the quarter, albeit at a slightly slower pace than its competitors.
"Demand for GPUs continues to rise as AI infrastructure expands, and HBM4 adoption is likely to accelerate once Rubin enters full-scale mass production," the report noted.
The report highlighted that investment has accelerated since late 2025, led by North American cloud service providers (CSPs) competing for leadership in the AI agent market. This has driven a surge in demand for inference-focused AI, supporting a positive outlook for the commercial adoption of the Rubin platform.
However, supply-side dynamics are shifting. TrendForce noted that commodity DRAM prices have jumped since the fourth quarter of 2025, narrowing the profitability gap between HBM and standard memory. Consequently, memory manufacturers are recalibrating their capacity allocation to balance revenue with customer requirements.
The research firm warned that relying on a single supplier could constrain the initial production ramp-up of the Rubin platform. Given the complexity of HBM4 design and sustained growth in GPU demand, TrendForce concluded that Nvidia will likely require all three chipmakers to ensure supply stability.
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